A man accused of leveling a shotgun at another person after a Christmas morning argument received a suspended sentence earlier this year.  

Michael Eugene Long, 40, of Kalispell pleaded not guilty to felony assault with a weapon in Flathead County District Court in January, but struck a deal with the County Attorney's Office the following month.  

In exchange for a guilty plea to an amended charge of felony criminal endangerment, prosecutors agreed to recommend he receive a suspended five-year sentence with the state Department of Corrections.  

Judge Paul Sullivan stuck to the arrangement at Long's April 16 sentencing. He also gave Long credit for 15 days of time served.  

Long was arguing with a woman outside a neighbor's home before 9 a.m., Dec. 25, according to court documents. He left after the neighbor intervened in the dispute, but returned and knocked on the door.  

When the neighbor opened up, he found the barrel of the shotgun leveled at him, court documents said. He later told investigators that he wrestled the gun away from Long and, with the help of other people in his home, seized a sheathed knife and hatchet from the 40-year-old.  

Several witnesses corroborated much of the neighbor's accounts, but none recalled seeing Long aim the shotgun, court documents said.  

In an interview with investigators, Long accused the neighbor of attacking him unprovoked while he was carrying a shotgun to his cousin's home for safekeeping. He said he abandoned the shotgun and fled when other people joined the fray, according to court documents. 

News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 406-758-4430 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.